Lady Jia is sentenced to the Cold Palace. A servant comes in with her food and she gets angry and yells at him. He tells her that he is giving face to the Fourth Prince by delivering her food to her, but if she continues to behave this way, she'll have to get her own food from now on. In frustration, she throws her food on the ground. Seconds later, she realizes that it's the only food she'll get, she crawls on the floor to retrieve it. At that moment, Consort Xian comes in. Lady Jia yells at her, saying that it's her fault that she is where she is now. She goes on a full monologue, saying that she never had any backing and she chose to be on Noble Consort Gao's side so that she has someone to back her up. She said that she was lucky enough to give birth to the Fourth Prince, but now even that is taken away from her. She said that for her child, she was like a dog to Noble Consort Gao, doing all her dirty jobs. Consort Xian said that she wasn't here to listen to her life story. She wanted to know whether it was Noble Consort Gao who told Prince Yi to report her father. Lady Jia said it was. Consort Xian said that it was Noble Consort Gao who ruin her family. Lady Jia laughs and said that it was her own fault that her family members died. She said that if she was begged the King for help, then they wouldn't have died. Consort Xian then strangles her to death and leaves the cold palace, saying that no one can look down on her again.
She wakes up in the middle of the night from a nightmare and then goes to attend the crying Fourth Prince without even putting her shoes on. While feeding she tells him that he will now be his mother. The next day, Consort Xian's maid reports to her that Lady Jia passed away. She seems nonchalant about the news.
At the Empress' palace, the Empress yells at Ying Luo, telling her that she's too stubborn. Previously, she punished her to write a word 100 times, she did it, but she wrote a different word. The Empress knows that she doesn't feel like she was in the wrong. Then, Qing Er comes in and tells them about Lady Jia. The Empress feels bad for the Fourth Prince. Qing Er suggests that she could put the Fourth Prince under her care, but the Empress feels like Consort Xian will do a better job as she has other responsibilities and doesn't have the time. Qing Er says she might be overstepping her boundaries, but she thinks that the Empress should try to have another son with the Emperor, saying that they might choose a Crown Prince soon. She's afraid that the Empress would lose her power if she doesn't have a child. Ying Luo tries to warn Qing Er to stop talking, but the Empress gets mad and leaves the room. Qing Er tells Ying Luo that she's worried about the Empress and that she always avoids the question. Ying Luo then goes to tend the Empress, only to see her shivering in her bed. Ying Luo asks the Empress why she doesn't tell anyone she's sick. The Empress states that she isn't sick.
The next day, the Empress meets with Lady Chun and then asks all the servants to leave. Ming Yu wonders what the Empress is talking about and tries to listen in. Qing Er yells at her not to. At the end of the conversation, the Empress said that she's counting on Lady Chun and she leaves.
Lady Chun walks pass Ying Luo and she wonders what is going on.
The news spread to Noble Consort Gao. She wonders what the two are up to. She thinks of a plan to take advantage of the situation and tells her maid to spread some gossip.
In the Courtyard, Ying Luo catches a maid who is staring at the Empress' doorway as Lady Chun leaves. Ying Luo asks what she is staring so intently at. The maid asks Ying Luo, "Don't you find it weird that Lady Chun has been coming at the Empress' palace every day for the past seven days? Even if they were talking about something, it shouldn't take this long." Ying Luo said that they don't need to know what they're up to. The maid then tells Ying Luo about the rumour that is going around about the Empress and Lady Chun. Ying Luo yells at her, saying that her tongue will get cut off if anyone hears what she just said. She is dirtying the Empress' image.
Ying Luo bumps into Qing Er, who is washing the Empress' undergarments. Qing Er is surprised that Ying Luo isn't asleep yet and tells her to go to bed.
Next day, Noble Consort Gao visits the Emperor, giving him some scriptures. When they were discussing it, they heard someone singing and the Emperor left to see what's happening. The musical was about two women lovers, which angers the Emperor.
Ying Luo overhears this and runs to the Empress' palace. She carries a water bath and bumps into the Emperor, wetting all his clothes. The Emperor ignores her and continues to the Empress' palace. When the Emperor went to the Empress' place, only to find them both painting a picture. The Empress tells him that she didn't know what to give to him for his birthday, so asked Lady Chun for some advice and help. She wanted it to be a surprise, which was why she was being so secretive. She then figures out that his outfit was wet and asked what happened. He told her that her 'favourite' maid did it.
Ying Luo then comes in on cue and apologizes to the Emperor. The Emperor ignores her and went to change. The Empress orders Ying Luo to bring him new clothes, but the Emperor tells her to go outside and kneel. The Emperor tells the Empress about the rumour. The Empress laughs, and said that it's outrageous - the Emperor couldn't have possibly believed it, right? The Emperor snorts and then complains more about Ying Luo. The Empress said that she's a good maid and maybe the Emperor only have a bad impression of her because of the misunderstanding when they first met. The Emperor says that Ying Luo purposely poured water on him and says that maybe she wants to seduce him. The Empress laughs and says that Ying Luo is not that type of person. The Emperor warns the Empress about Ying Luo and her sly ways and leaves.
The Empress and Lady Chun ask Ying Luo why she came back. Ying Luo said that she doesn't know what happened, but she knows that the Empress doesn't want anyone to know so she tried her best to keep the secret a secret. She is grateful that the Empress taught her how to read and write and will do anything in her power to help the Empress. The Empress tells Ying Luo the real reason why she was so secretive - she is sick and asks Lady Chun do acupuncture on her. The Empress said that if she hadn't done what she did, the Emperor would have found out. She thanks her and says that now she's on in the secret as well and she's counting on her to keep it a secret.
----------
This episode went from dark to funny. This is the first glimpse we have of Consort Xian turning to the evil side, as she kills Lady Jia. The death doesn't seem to phase the court though, it seemed as if it was expected. No investigation, no questions asked. It'll be interesting to see how the Fourth Prince grows up - he'll probably have a very twisted personality.
It's another clash between the Emperor and Ying Luo (literally). And Ying Luo seems to be able to get away scathel-free (for the third time).
I'm glad that Ying Luo is in on the secret now - I bet she'll be a big help in the future.